Fixing mechanism for a fan fixing frame

ABSTRACT

A fixing mechanism fixes a side of a fan frame having a plurality of cooling fans and provided with a locking elastic tab having a second locking portion to a bottom board of a housing of an electronic device. The fixing mechanism includes a fixing tab fixed to the bottom board; a locking tab corresponding to the locking elastic tab and vertically installed on the fixing tab for fixing the fan frame, the locking tab having a first locking portion for being locked to the second locking portion; and an elastic buffer installed between the first locking portion and the second locking portion, for reducing vibration generated due to the spinning of the cooling fans.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention generally relates to fixing mechanisms, and morespecifically, to a fixing mechanism for a fan frame.

2. Description of Related Art

Servers rely on cooling fans to dissipate heat. Generally, a cooling fanapplied in a server and a fan frame in which the cooling fan isinstalled are assembled to form a cooling fan assembly.

The fan frame is fixed to a bottom board of a housing of the server byscrews. Two fixing mechanisms made of bended plates each having twobended ends are installed on two sides of the fan frames. For both ofthe fixing mechanisms, one of the bended ends is fixed to the fan frame,and the other of the bended ends is fixed to the bottom board of thehousing by screws, such that the fan frame is fixed to the bottom boardof the housing. In operation, the cooling fan vibrates and makes noises.To reduce the noises, an elastic washer is mounted on a screw first andthen the screw with the elastic washer mounted is screwed to the bottomboard of the housing.

However, the screw, if being mounted with the elastic washer and havingtoo few screw threads easily loosen from the bottom board of thehousing. Therefore, the cooling fan makes louder noises.

Moreover, the elastic washer becomes thinner than it used to be becauseit is pressed by the screw, and too thin the elastic washer has poorvibration absorbing capability. Further, the elastic washer, if beingpressed for a long time, shows elastic fatigue.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the disadvantages of the prior art mentioned above, it is aprimary objective of the present invention to provide a fixing mechanismfor a fan frame, which is capable of providing an excellent shockabsorber quality.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a fixingmechanism for a fan frame, which is made of highly durable vibrationabsorbing material.

It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a fixingmechanism for a fan frame, which is capable of providing an excellentshock absorber quality as well as high stability.

To achieve the aforementioned and other objectives, a fixing mechanismis provided according to the present invention. The fixing mechanismfixes a side of a fan frame having a plurality of cooling fans andprovided with a locking elastic tab having a second locking portion to abottom board of a housing of an electronic device. The fixing mechanismincludes a fixing tab fixed to the bottom board; a locking tabcorresponding to the locking elastic tab and vertically installed on thefixing tab for fixing the fan frame, the locking tab having a firstlocking portion for being locked to the second locking portion; and anelastic buffer installed between the first locking portion and thesecond locking portion, for reducing vibration generated due to thespinning of the cooling fans.

Compared with the elastic washer of the prior art which provides limitedbuffer effect because of the strong extruding pressure from the screw,the elastic buffer of the fan frame fixing mechanism of the presentinvention is installed between the locking tab and the locking elastictab, and the elastic buffer has less extruding pressure on and thus hashigher elastic deformation capacity compared with the elastic washer ofthe prior art, thereby providing higher shockproof effect.

In addition, compared with the prior art, wherein, the elastic washer iseasily to have the disadvantages of elastic fatigue and low durabilityafter keeping in the same elastic deformation for a long while, andsince the elastic buffer of the fan frame fixing mechanism of thepresent invention has elasticity, while receiving extruding pressure, itis capable of stretching with full elasticity and thus does not easilyproduce elastic fatigue.

Furthermore, the fixing mechanism is for fixing the fan frame by meansthat the first locking portions of the locking tab is locking up to thesecond locking portions of the locking elastic tab of the fan frame, andthe fixing mechanism itself can be fixed to the case bottom board bymeans of riveting, screw locking, welding, and others, the fixingmechanism can be steadily fixed to the case bottom board without theneed of elastic washers for the screws that are for fixing the fixingmechanism to the case bottom board as in the prior art.

In view of the aforementioned description, the fan frame fixingmechanism of the present invention is capable of overcoming thedrawbacks in the prior art, thereby having high advantageous value ofproduction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention can be more fully understood by reading thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiments, withreference made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a fixing mechanism for fixing a fan frameto a bottom board of a housing of the preferred embodiment according tothe present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a side view of the fixing mechanism fixing the fan frame tothe bottom board shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following illustrative embodiments are provided to illustrate thedisclosure of the present invention, these and other advantages andeffects can be apparently understood by those in the art after readingthe disclosure of this specification. The present invention can also beperformed or applied by other different embodiments. The details of thespecification may be on the basis of different points and applications,and numerous modifications and variations can be devised withoutdeparting from the spirit of the present invention.

Please refer to FIG. 1, which is an exploded view of a fixing mechanism3 for fixing a fan frame 2 to a bottom board 1 of a housing of thepreferred embodiment according to the present invention. The bottomboard 1 of the housing can be installed in an electronic device (notshown) such as a server for carrying a motherboard, on which a heatgenerating device, such as a memory card or a central processing unit(CPU), is installed. The fan frame 2 is installed on the bottom board 1.A plurality of cooling fans 20 are installed in the fan frame 2 fordissipating heat generated by the heat dissipating device. Two opposingsides of the fan frame 2 can be fixed to the bottom board 1 by thefixing mechanism 3. Since the two sides of the fan frame 2 have similarstructure, only one of them is illustrated in FIG. 2 for clarifying thetechnical features of the present invention. Besides, note that the fanframe 2 can have only one of the two sides be fixed to the bottom board1 by the fixing mechanism 3, and have the other one be fixed to thebottom board 1 by means of inserting, pivoting, or other fixingtechniques.

The fixing mechanism 3 comprise a fixing tab 30 fixed to the case bottomboard 1, and a locking tab 31 vertically installed on the fixing tab 30for fixing the fan frame 2. The locking tab 31 has a plurality of firstlocking portions 310. The fixing tab 30 can be fixed to the bottom board1 by means of riveting with rivets, locking up with screws, or evenwelding.

The fan frame 2 has a locking elastic tab 21 corresponding to thelocking tab 31. The locking elastic tab 21 has a plurality of secondlocking portions 210 for being locked to the first locking portions 310.An elastic buffer 4 is installed between each of the second lockingportions 210 and each of the first locking portions 310, to reduce thevibration generated due to the spinning of the cooling fans 20.

The first locking portion 310 can be a groove portion far from the fanframe 2, the second locking portion 210 can be a raised portion far fromthe fan frame 2, and the elastic buffer 4 is in a cap shape for coveringthe raised portion of the second locking portion 210. Of course, thefirst locking portion 310 can be a raised portion, and the secondlocking portion 210, accordingly, can be a groove portion.

In addition, an operation tab 211 is installed on a top end of thelocking elastic tab 21, for providing users with operation convenience.

The elastic buffer 4 has a wavy loop side, in order to enhance theadhesive force as well as add in elastic buffer space. Referring to FIG.2. The elastic buffer 2 has a cap-shaped top cover 40 and a buffer ring41 raised and installed on the top cover 40. The buffer ring 41 reducesthe contact area between the top cover 40 and the first locking portion310.

The fixing mechanism of the present invention is applicable to a coolingfan for absorb vibration. To obtain its function as a snubber, theelastic buffer 4 is mounted on the second locking portion 210 first,then the locking elastic tab 21 is pulled to position the fan frame 2 ona predetermined position, the locking elastic tab 21 is then releasedand rebounds and is locked to the locking tab 31. Therefore, the elasticbuffer 4 is installed between the locking elastic tab 21 and the lockingtab 31 and absorb the vibration generated due to the spinning of thecooling fans 20.

Compared with the elastic washer of the prior art which provides onlylimited buffer effect because of the strong extruding pressure from thescrew, the elastic buffer 4 of the fan frame fixing mechanism of thepresent invention is installed between the locking tab 31 and thelocking elastic tab 21, and the elastic buffer 4 has less extrudingpressure on and thus has higher elastic deformation capacity comparedwith the elastic washer of the prior art, thereby providing highershockproof effect.

In addition, compared with prior art, wherein, the elastic washer iseasily to have the disadvantages of elastic fatigue and low durabilityafter keeping in the same elastic deformation capacity for a long while,and since the elastic buffer 4 of the fan frame fixing mechanism of thepresent invention receives extruding pressure that has elasticity, it iscapable of stretching with full elasticity, and thus does not produceelastic fatigue easily.

Furthermore, the fixing mechanism 3 is integrated to the fan frame 2 bymeans that the locking tab 31 and the locking elastic tab 21 are lockingup to each other, and the fixing mechanism 3 itself can be fixed to thecase bottom board by means of riveting, screwing, welding, and others,thus the fixing mechanism 3 can be steadily fixed to the case bottomboard without the need of elastic washers for the screws that are forfixing the fixing mechanism to the case bottom board as in the priorart.

In view of the aforementioned description, the fan frame fixingmechanism of the present invention is capable of overcoming thedrawbacks in the prior art, thereby having high advantageous value ofproduction.

The foregoing descriptions of the detailed embodiments are onlyillustrated to disclose the features and functions of the presentinvention and not restrictive of the scope of the present invention. Itshould be understood to those in the art that all modifications andvariations according to the spirit and principle in the disclosure ofthe present invention should fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

1. A fixing mechanism for a fan frame, for fixing a side of the fanframe having a plurality of cooling fans and provided with a lockingelastic tab having a second locking portion to a bottom board of ahousing of an electronic device, the fixing mechanism comprising: afixing tab fixed to the bottom board; a locking tab corresponding to thelocking elastic tab and vertically installed on the fixing tab forfixing the fan frame, the locking tab having a first locking portion forbeing locked to the second locking portion; and an elastic bufferinstalled between the first locking portion and the second lockingportion, for reducing vibration generated due to the spinning of thecooling fans.
 2. The fixing mechanism of claim 1, wherein the firstlocking portion is a groove portion far from the fan frame, the secondlocking portion is a raised portion far from the fan frame, and theelastic buffer is in a cap shape and is mounted on the raised portion.3. The fixing mechanism of claim 2, wherein the cap-shaped elasticbuffer has a wavy loop side.
 4. The fixing mechanism of claim 2, whereinthe cap-shaped elastic buffer has a cap-shaped top cover and a bufferring raised and installed on the top cover.
 5. The fixing mechanism ofclaim 1, wherein the first locking portion is a raised portion far fromthe fan frame, the second locking portion is a groove portion far fromthe fan frame, and the elastic buffer is in a cap shape and is mountedon the raised portion.
 6. The fixing mechanism of claim 5, wherein thecap-shaped elastic buffer has a wavy loop side.
 7. The fixing mechanismof claim 5, wherein the cap-shaped elastic buffer has a cap-shaped topcover and a buffer ring raised and installed on the top cover.
 8. Themechanism of claim 1, wherein the locking elastic tab further comprisesan operating tab on a top end of the locking elastic tab.
 9. The fixingmechanism of claim 1, wherein the fixing tab is fixed to the bottomboard by means of one selected from the group consisting of riveting,screw locking, and welding techniques.